Short Summary

IN A MAJOR MOVE TO FURTHER FRUSTRATE THE VIETCONG, AUSTRALIAN TROOPS IN EMBATTLED VIETNAM HAVE OCCUPIED AND FORTIFIED A HILL THREE MILES SOUTHEAST OF THEIR TASK FORCE BASE.

Description

IN A MAJOR MOVE TO FURTHER FRUSTRATE THE VIETCONG, AUSTRALIAN TROOPS IN EMBATTLED VIETNAM HAVE OCCUPIED AND FORTIFIED A HILL THREE MILES SOUTHEAST OF THEIR TASK FORCE BASE. THE BASE IS IN NUI DAT, ABOUT 40 MILES SOUTHEAST OF SAIGON.

THE FIRST ELEMENTS OF THE TASK FORCE TO ARRIVE ON THE HILL WERE FROM THE 5TH BATTALION, THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN REGIMENT. THEY WERE HELICOPTERED IN ON MARCH 6.

THE HILL, KNOWN AS "HORSESHOE", IS 250 FEET HIGH AND DOMINATES SURROUNDING JUNGLE AND THE VILLAGE OF DAT DO, WHICH HAS BEEN FREQUENT TERRORISED AND MORTORED BY THE VIETCONG.

THE AREA HAS BEEN HEAVILY FORTIFIED TO CO-ORDINATE LOCAL DEFENCE EFFORTS WITH THOSE OF OTHER ALLIED FORCES IN PHUOUC TY TUY PROVINCE.

CODE-NAMED OPERATION LECTON, THE INFANTRY AND TASK FORCE ENGINEERS BEGAN A HEAVY TASK FOR CLEARING JUNGLE AND BAMBOO FROM THE SLOPES IMMEDIATELY ON THEIR ARRIVAL.

ON THE FIRST NIGHT OF THEIR OCCUPATION, OTHER TROOPS OF THE BATTALION KILLED TWO VIETCONG IN A SHARP CLASH NOT FAR FROM THE AREA.

ARTILLERY FROM THE 1ST FIELD REGIMENT AND MORTAR UNITS HAVE BEEN AIRLIFTED INTO THE HILL POSITION AND THE WHOLE HILL FEATURE HAS BEEN SURROUNDED BY BARBED WIRE.